"Yes, lots. But I don't think there's anything I can't put off. How far is it from London? Shall we motor down?"
"Yes, if it's fine. We'd better, in any case, as it's five miles from a station, and we might not be able to get a car there. I don't think I could stand five miles in a horse fly."
"You're always so impatient, darling. Having your own way so much has spoiled you. I expect B will want to come."
"Well, she can if she likes."
"I think I'd rather it was just you and me. We always have a lot of fun together."
He gave her a hug and a kiss. The butler came in at that moment with the tea-tray, and smiled paternally. The footman who followed him looked abashed.
"Look, Jarvis, we've found the very house," said Caroline, exhibiting a large photograph of Abington Abbey.
"Lor, miss!" said the butler indulgently.
Beatrix and Barbara came in, accompanied by the Dragon.
Beatrix was even prettier than Caroline, with a frail ethereal loveliness that made her appear almost too good for this sinful world, which she wasn't at all, though she was a very charming creature. She was very fair, with a delicious complexion of cream and roses, and a figure of extreme slimness. She was still supposed to be in the schoolroom, and occasionally was so. She was only just eighteen, and wore her hair looped and tied with a big bow; but she would be presented in the spring and would then blossom fully.